Acting Ombudsman
JUSTICE MARIFLOR PUNZALAN CASTILLO
Justice Castillo hails from the province of Bulacan, where she was born and raised. After spending her formative years at the School of the Holy Spirit of Bulacan, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines. In 1978, she passed the bar examinations with an exemplary rating of 87.45%.
Justice Castillo began her career as an Investigator in the Tanodbayan, before it became the Office of the Ombudsman. She was later promoted as a Special Prosecution Officer at the same office. In 1993, she donned the judicial robe for the first time as Presiding Judge of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) of Quezon City. She became a Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge of Quezon City in 1999 and, ultimately, an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals in 2004. In November 2023, she was appointed the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals.
She retired from the Judiciary in September 2024 with a perfect record – zero case backlog. Barely two weeks later, she was appointed as the Special Prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman, bringing her career full circle.
On 28 July 2025, Justice Castillo was appointed as the Acting Ombudsman, following the end of Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires’ seven-year term.
Justice Castillo has received numerous awards, including the “Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award for Judicial Excellence as the Most Outstanding Metropolitan Trial Court Judge” in 1999, “Ulirang Ina Awardee for Law and Judiciary” in 2008, Certificate of Recognition from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Commendation from the Office of the Ombudsman, and Plaque of Recognition from the UP Women Lawyers’ Circle, among others. Her home province of Bulacan has also showered her with several accolades, including the “Dangal ng Lipi Award for Public Service”, recognizing her commitment to public service.
Beyond her legal prowess, Justice Castillo is a woman of many passions and talents. She is a gifted pianist, a talented dancer, a seasoned traveler, and a devoted patron of the arts.